Disposable tube dispensing device



May 3, 1966 E. R. STERN ETAL DISPOSABLE TUBE DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1964 INVENTORS ERHARD R. STERN BY PAUL R. MAESTRO A ORNEY May 3, 1966 E. R. STERN ETAL DISPOSABLE TUBE DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1964 6 J 7 MW MET y O B E TSA DNA MM WRM O R W? n RA EP United States Patent 3,249,256 DISPOSABLE TUBE DISPENSING DEVICE Erhard R. Stern, West Islip, and Paul R. Maestro, Sayville, N.Y., assignors to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 404,413

9 Claims. (Cl. 221-73) This invention relates to a device for automatically supplying disposable pipette tube sections for use in conjunction with a permanent pipette tube section in a machine whose continuous operation requires a different tube section during each machine cycle.

In the copending application of Myron W. Leslie, Serial No. 362,890, filed April 27, 1964, for Coagulation'Detection and Coagulability Determination, there is disclosed a machine utilizing a permanent pipette tube section arranged, after application of a disposable tube section to its end, to move to one position to pick up a sample of fluid, thence to a different position for the discharge of the fluid, and finally after discard of the disposable tube section, back to its original position for the application thereto of another disposable tube section. In accordance with the present invention there is provided an attachment to and for cooperation with the machine disclosed in said copending application, for automatically locating disposable tube sections previously cut to a given length one after another in a position of alignment with the permanent pipette tube section, moving said permanent pipette tube section longitudinally into the bore of the disposable tube section thus aligned and withdrawing such disposable tube section from the magazine for use in a normal cycle of operation of the machine. The improved mechanism contemplates a magazine in which individual disposable tube sections all of the same length are disposed preferably in the form of a roll with their corresponding ends in registry and attached to a tape at one side thereof. The disposable tube sections are fed through a dispensing passageway associated with the magazine in a lateral direction by the application of tension to the tape to which they are attached, to a terminal position in the passageway where the disposable tubes are located one after another after disengagement from the tape. In the terminal position the tubes are in a position of axial alignment with the permanent pipette tube section.

Tension is applied to the tape to advance the disposable tube sections through the passageway by a spindle disposed parallel-with the disposable tube sections and about which the tape is wrapped. The spindle is rotatable to pull the tape along thus to effect such advancement.

While the arrest of a disposable tube section in the terminal position places both permanent and disposable pipette sections in a common plane at right angles to the plane of the passageway, they will not necessarily be in such alignment to insure a perfect telescopic fit one within the other. In accordance with the invention, the passageway through which the disposable. tubes move laterally is itself adjusted by,the descent of the permanent pipette tube section in a direction at right angles to the plane of the passageway. This adjustment of the passageway effects a perfect longitudinal alignment of the permanent pipette tube section with the disposable pipette tube section in the terminal position.

A better understanding of the invention may be had from the following description read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of a machine utilizing a pivotally arranged-pipette system in which the pipette has permanent and disposable tube sections;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

3,249,256 Patented May 3, 1966 FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the relative dispositions of the disposable tube sections and the tape to which they are attached as the tube sections travel through the dispensing passageway;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented front view of the disposable tube section dispensing magazine; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmented sectional view on line 5'-5 of FIG. 4.

The portion'of the machine with which the dispensing mechanism is associated includes a rigid frame 10 rotatable about a pivot 11 having a given position in the fixed frame 12 of the machine (FIG. 1). A segment 13 which is fixed on the pivoted frame It) presents a peripheral edge 14 concentric with the pivot 11 and equipped with teeth geared to a pinion 15 arranged for rotation in opposite directions by a motor not shown but which is mounted on the fixed frame 12.

A slide member 16 is disposed on a pair of parallel rod 17 fixed in the pivoted frame 10. The rods 17 constitute ways along which the slide member travels radially toward and from the pivot 11. The radial movement of the slide member 16 toward and from the pivot 11 is effected by a toothed pinion 18 concentrically disposed with respect to said pivot and which is arranged for rotation in opposite directions by a motor (not shown) supported by the machine frame 12. Another toothed pinion 19 is rotatably mounted on the frame supporting segment 13 intermediate and for cooperation with both the pinion 18 and a rack 26 fixed to the slide member 16. According to this arrangement, slide member 16 moves to one end of pivoted frame 10 when pinion 18 rotates in one direction and to the other end of the pivoted frame when the pinion turns in the opposite direction. Slide member 16 carries a pipette which has a permanent tube section 21 connected by a flexible tube 22 passing through pivot 11 to a suction source not shown. In the operation of the machine the pipette also includes one disposable tube section T1 supplied from a group of disposable tube sections T and which is automatically attached to the permanent tube section 21 at the start of a machine cycle of operation and automatically discarded from the permanent pipette tube section 21 near the end of the machine cycle.

The manner in which the disposable pipette tube section T1 is supplied for attachment .to the permanent pipette tube section 21 will be made clear hereinafter. Sufiice it to say here, when frame 10 is in solid line position 1 shown in FIG. '1 and a machine cycle of operation inaugurated, rotation of pinion 18 in one direction moves slide member 16 radially outwardly from pivot 11 to cause the permanent pipette tube section 21 to telescope into the bore of and thereby frictionally to engage with a disposable tube section T1. Reverse rotation of pinion 18 raises slide member 16 with the disposable tube section attached to the permanent tube section. Thereupon segment 13 by rotation of its associated motor 15 in one direction moves the pipette to the vertical dotted line position 2 where it comes to rest in overlying relation with a vessel 23 containing a fluid sample to be utilized.

member 16 by radial movement inwardly again is raisedv whereupon segment 13 by a reverse rotation of its as slide member 16 which it carries to the original solid line position 1 ready for the next cycle, the disposable tube their corresponding ends in registry and parallel one with.

the other. The attachment of the tape is substantially at the mid portion of the tube sections and the linear dimension of the tape is at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the respective tubes. The tube sections with tape attached are convoluted into a roll with one end resting on a plate 25 fixed to the machine frame and disposed at an angle which gives the individual disposable pipette tube sections an inclination with the horizontal the same as the direction of travel of the permanent pipette tube section when the latter is in the position 1 ready to descend and pick up a disposable tube section. The inclined plate 25 forms the base of a magazine which further includes a wall 26 disposed at right angles to the base and which is curved at one end to form a cradle to accommodate the convoluted roll. The wall 26 is flat for a substantial portion of its length and extends to a position adjacent the path of movement of the permanent pipette section 21 as it descends whereupon the plate is reversed upon itself to present a wall portion 27 spaced from but parallel with wall 26 and which together provide a passageway 28 wide enough to accommodate the movement of the disposable tube sections one at a time (FIGS. 2, 4 and Wall 26 is flexible to permit motion to align the disposable pipette tube section next to be picked up with the permanent pipette tube section in position l. The wall portion 27 of the passageway terminates in a flange 29 extending at a right angle away from the passageway 28 and secured to a vertical post 30. Vertical post 30 has one face 31' coplanar with the inner face of wall portion 27 of the passageway 28. To state it differently, the face 31 of the vertical post 30 is a continuation of one face of the passageway. A spacer rail 32 fixed between the face of the passageway presented by the. wall section 26 and the face of the passageway presented by wall section 21 and face 31 of post 30 along their top edges, insures a dispensing passageway having sufficient clearance to permit the tape and the disposable tube sections attached thereto and which constitutes the outer convolution of the roll of tubes T to be pulled through the passageway when tension is applied to the tape.

A section of the wall 33 adjacent the position of tape travel and wide enough to accommodate the tape may be cut out of the wall and curved outwardly to present a guiding surface for the tape as it threads out of the passageway. From the guiding surface the tape threads to a rotatable spindle 34 mounted perpendicularly to the base of the magazine and'around which the tape 24 passes with its adhesive surface in contact. A motor 35 suitable for the purpose and associated with the spindle 34 is arranged when feed of the tube sections through the passageway is desired to apply a torque to the spindle in a direction to pull on the tape. This may be accomplished by placing a microswitch (not shown) in circuit with the motor 35 to be actuated by movement of the parts any time after a disposable tube section has been withdrawn from the magazine and before the permanent p1pette starts its downward movement to pick up another. The reverse bend 36 between plate sections 26 and 27 which define the outer and inner walls of passageway 28 establishes a terminal position into which the disposable pipette tube sections move one after the other as the tube sections at the terminal position are removed. Removal of a tube section from the terminal position provides room for entry therein of the next tube in line. The disposable threads toward the spindle 34. Passageway 28 extends somewhat beyond the region where the tape leaves and accordingly alltube sections in the passageway beyond the region are disengaged from the tape.

While the passageway 28 is closed at the top for a major portion of its length, the end portion thereof is cut away as at 37 to expose the upper end of the disposable tube section which is in the terminal position. Ordinarily, the pressure of the disposable tubes on the tube in the terminal position is sufficient to hold that tube snug against the end of the passageway so that no problem arises in effecting its alignment with the permanent pipette tube section in the direction lengthwise of thepassageway. Registration of the terminal tube with the permanent pipette section in the direction at right angles to the feed of the tubes through the .passageway may create a problem if, for any reason, frame 10 in returning to position 1 has not been arrested so as precisely to align permanent pipette tube section 21 with the plane of passageway 28. In the event of such contingency registration is nevertheless assured by providing a bracket 38 fixed to the post 30 and which has a vertical portion 39 at the top thereof offset toward the terminal position inthe passageway. Vertical top portion 39 has suflicient width in the direction transverse of the passageway 28 to accommodate a vertical slot 40 which opens upwardly and which is, upon the descent of the slide member 16 on which the permanent pipette secin the terminal position thereof such as to interfere with' its telescopic entry, the engagement of the pin 41 in the slot 40 will adjust thepassageway unit into proper alignment. Such adjustment is readily permitted since passageway wall 26. is made of spring steel and since post 30 is fastened to wall 26 through flange, 29 of passageway wall 27 and the intermediate spacer bar 28.

Assuming that the machine is in continuous operation and that each machine cycle contemplates supplying a disposable pipette tube section to the permanent pipette tube section moving the combination pipette to a position for picking up a fluid sample for transfer to a third position where the fluid is discharged for use, discarding the disposable pipette tube section and returning the pipette to its original position ready for the next machine cycle of operation, it is believed that the cooperation of the improved attachment with such machine will be clear from what has been previously said.

The invention has been described in connection with one embodiment but many modifications thereof are included within its spirit. It is to be limited therefore only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for automatically supplying disposable pipette tube sections to a permanent pipette tube section constrained to move from one position to another for the transfer of liquid therein, comprising a group of individualdisposable tube sections having all the same length and attached to a tape at one side thereof with their axis parallel and their corresponding ends in registry, a passageway through which the tube sections are conveyed laterally one after the other by the application of tension to the tape, means associated with the passageway to facilitate disengagement of the tape from the tube sections, a terminal position in said passageway in which tube sections disengaged from the tape are located one at a time by movement of the tube sectionswhich follow in the passageway, a reciprocable permanent pipette section adaptedupon movement in one direction frictionally to engage in the bore of the tube section in said terminal position-and upon movement in the opposite direction to remove the tube section from said terminal position, and means for applying tension to the tape to move a following tube section into the terminal position after the tube section in advance thereof has been removed.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein there is an extension of the passageway beyond the means to facilitate disengagement of the tape from the tube sections and which has a closed end defining the terminal tube position in the passageway.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the tape has a pressure sensitive adhesive at one side thereof by which the tube sections are attached to the tape.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the disposable tube sections with tape attached are disposed in the device in the form of a roll.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the leading end of the roll is threaded into the passageway and a platform associated with the passageway supports the roll on end.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the tape is attached to a rotatable spindle arranged to apply tension to the tape by its tendency to rotate.

7. A device according to claim 1 provided with equipment adapted to cooperate with means on the reoiprocable permanent pipette section as the pipette moves to engage.

the disposable tube section, to adjust the bore of the disposable tube section in terminal position into exact registry with the permanent pipette section.

8. A device according to claim 1 provided with equipment adapted to cooperate with means on the reciprocable permanent pipette section as said pipette section moves, to adjust the passageway laterally whereby to locate the bore of the tube section in terminal position into exact registry with the permanent pipette section.

9. A device according to claim 1 equipped with a slot adapted for entry by a pin associated with the reciprocable permanent pipette section as the latter moves to engage the disposable tube section, to adjust the passageway laterally, whereby to locate the bore of the tube section in the terminal position in exact registry with the permanent pipette section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,597 6/1934 Rapellin 221--232 2,056,560 10/1936 Boden 22l-74 3,027,047 3/ 1962 Johnson 221-73 FOREIGN PATENTS 957,717 2/ 1957 Germany.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

W. SOBIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING DISPOSABLE PIPETTE TUBE SECTIONS TO A PERMANENT PIPETTE TUBE SECTION CONSTRAINED TO MOVE FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER FOR THE TRANSFER OF LIQUID THEREIN, COMPRISING A GROUP OF INDIVIDUAL DISPOSABLE TUBE SECTIONS HAVING ALL THE SAME LENGTH AND ATTACHED TO A TAPE AT ONE SIDE THEREOF WITH THEIR AXIS PARALLEL AND THEIR CORRESPONDING ENDS IN REGISTRY, A PASSAGEWAY THROUGH WHICH THE TUBE SECTIONS ARE CONVEYED LATERALLY ONE AFTER THE OTHER BY THE APPLICATION OF TENSION TO THE TAPE, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASSAGEWAY TO FACILITATE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TAPE FROM THE TUBE SECTIONS, A TERMINAL POSITION IN SAID PASSAGEWAY IN WHICH TUBE SECTIONS DISENGAGED FROM THE TAPE ARE LOCATED ONE AT A TIME BY MOVEMENT OF THE TUBE SECTIONS WHICH FOLLOW IN THE PASSAGEWAY, A RECIPROCABLE PERMANENT PIPETTE SECTION ADAPTED UPON MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION FRICTIONALLY TO ENGAGE IN THE BORE OF THE TUBE SECTION IN SAID TERMINAL POSITION AND UPON MOVEMENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO REMOVE THE TUBE SECTION FROM SAID TERMINAL POSITION, AND MEANS FOR APPLYING TENSION TO THE TAPE TO MOVE A FOLLOWING TUBE SECTION INTO THE TERMINAL POSITION AFTER THE TUBE SECTION IN ADVANCE THEREOF HAS BEEN REMOVED. 